|
SUMMARY OF THE
SPRING ISSUE
Volume 13, No. 1, Spring
2005
Slovak
Heritage Live
A quarterly newsletter
published by Vladimir Linder
Winter issue was published in
February 2005 and it was mailed to 1200 recipients world wide.
Last Supper by Master Paul from Levoča,
from the church of St. James
FROM THE EDITOR
Thank
you for renewing your subscriptions in such a large numbers and thank you
all for all your donations. I sure hope that this trend continues
throughout the year.
We had over 228000 hits on our Slovak Heritage Live site: www.slovakheritage.org
in December 2004 and the visitors were from:
USA, Canada, Slovak Republic, Unknown, European Union, Great Britain,
Sweden, Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic, Australia, Netherlands, Japan,
Spain, Austria, Poland, France, China, Belgium, Italy, South Korea,
Finland, Switzerland, Turkey, Russian Federation, Croatia, Norway,
Slovenia, India, Portugal, Brazil, Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece, Denmark,
Lithuania, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Mexico,
Philippines, Ireland, Yugoslavia, Taiwan, New Zealand, Lebanon, Latvia,
Romania, Argentina, Ukraine, Iran, South Africa, Indonesia, Thailand,
Malta, Luxembourg, Singapore, Iceland, Malaysia, Cyprus, Chile, Sri Lanka,
Egypt, Pakistan, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait,
Sudan, Venezuela, Guam (USA), Colombia, Peru, Dominican Republic, Moldova,
Faroe Islands, Nepal, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Togo, Mongolia, Macao,
Georgia, Brunei, Darussalam, Micronesia, Uganda, Cambodia, Panama,
Vietnam, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bangladesh, and Bahrain. This is
simply amazing and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I seen the
statistics.
During
Christmas our web provider had some problems, so II switched the site to
another, only to find similar problems at higher price. They were
promising 100% up time guarantee and that was broken in few days. Later on
I realized that there is no way anybody can give you 100% guarantee as the
equipment has to be upgraded and it breaks as well. The statistics were
not what I expected either as to get the hits by countries I would have to
install some elaborate program and it would take too much of my time. So I
switched back to my old provider and so far in January there were no down
times at all. So perhaps they got the thing going finally. I registered
another domain: www.vladimirlinder.com and I will set up web pages soon.
As you are reading this newsletter I am in Slovakia and you can reach me
there if you need anything by
email at: vlinder49@hotmail.com
or
by phoning my cell at: 011-421-907-297-508.
I will return home on
March 24. I wish you all Happy Easter.
FROM THE MAIL BAG
Dear
Vladimir,
Enjoyed reading about your summer and fall trips to Slovakia in 2004 in
the fall and winter issues of Slovak Heritage Live. Keep up the good work.
I have retired as a pastor of St. Teresa Avila Church in Sheffield, Ohio
for 3 ˝ years. But I am still very active and busy assisting with
masses, funerals, various services at neighboring parishes where I now
reside. I enjoy assisting at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish (Slovak) here
in Lakewood. Sharing our roots in Slovakia has been fascinating and
educational.
I celebrated my 75th
birthday on December 13th
and the 50th
anniversary of my priesthood of my ordination as a priest on December 18th.
In the last issue of Slovak Heritage Live I noted a picture of Cardinal
Jozef Tomko. We were classmates at the Lateran University in Rome
1959-1961.
I last visited Slovakia in the spring of 1982 and hope to return with my
brother next spring 2006-GOD WILLING!
Please extend my subscription from 05-2005 to 05-2006. Enclosed is $25.00
for that. The other $25.00 can be used to further your work of up-dating
us on life in Slovakia today.
God
bless your family and mission.
Father Edward Luca
1532 Elmwood Ave.
Lakewood OH
44107 USA
Dear
Vladimir,
Sorry for the long delay in renewing my subscription. I really enjoy your
articles, as they are most interesting.
I have been back twice to Slovakia, as my parents came from Prešov and I have
family in Bardejov and Poprad.
Keep
up the good work,
Betty
A. Kozley
4950 Aviemore Dr.
Yorba Linda CA
92887
Dear
Vlado,
Enclosed is $30.00 for my renewal of my subscription.
I am president of the Slovak Society of Colorado. Our non profit
organization works to keep our heritage alive. We meet monthly on the
second Tuesday of each month. During the year we host many activities.
Among them are our annual Fašiangy Celebration which this year will be
held on Saturday Feb. 12 in Denver. A great band and lots of good Slovak
and Czech beer makes for a lively event. During the summer we have our
summer picnic, this year featuring free špekáčky for everyone. In
October we have a big turn out for our Halušky Dinner. St. Mikuláš
makes his appearance at our Christmas Party.
In September my husband and I will make our 9th visit to Slovakia. I shall
take some of your magazines, which I have saved over the years, to share
with our many friends. Keep up the good work.
Anicka
Farrar
635 Estes
St.
Lakewood, CO 80215 5412
Mr.
Linder,
Thank you for the answer to my request, whether the Blessed Mother had
appeared to anyone in Turzovka and whether a shrine or chapel had been
built there.
I am pleased that there have been pilgrimages from all over the world,
mostly in April, August, and October. We wish the Blessed Mother will
bless the Slovak people and give peace to all people in the world.
Thanks again for the mention in the No.3, Fall 2004 issue.
Sincerely,
Mrs.
Mary C. Sigmund
34580 Pettibone Rd.
Solon
OH 44139
USA
In
1972 the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and
Natural Heritage, which defines cultural and natural heritage and its
values and aims at protecting them for future generations, was adopted in
the framework of UNESCO. On the basis of the Convention the most
significant localities and buildings in the world with extraordinary
cultural and natural value are inscribed on the World Heritage List. At
present five Slovak localities are included in the list: Banská Štiavnica
and its ancient mining works, Spiš
Castle and the cultural monuments in its surroundings, Vlkolínec
folk architecture reserve (since 1993), the Caves of Slovak Karst (since
1995) and Bardejov town
conservation reserve (since 2000).
The district
town of Bardejov, and administrative and cultural center of upper Sariš
is located in the northeastern part of Slovakia.
Besides the
impressive natural scenery it offers a wealth of cultural and historical
monuments, which form one of the finest urban complexes in Slovakia.
The oldest written record on Bardejov appears in the Ipatijev chronicle
from 1421. At the turn of 13th and 14th century colonists from Silesia
settled near a hamlet lying on the main communication artery. In 1320 King
Karol Róbert granted them extensive privileges, which accelerated the
process of reforming the chartered village of Bardejov into a town. In
1376 King Ľudovít Iraised its status to that of a free royal
town....
By: PAUL BERISH
My initial intent was to approach
this story as nostalgia. But the dictionary defines nostalgia as
“the state of being homesick” and as “wistful or excessively
sentimental yearning for a return to or of some past period or irrevocable
condition.” This story is none of that. It is just a loving,
sentimental account of some members of my paternal family. I am using
their Eastern Slovak dialect an English translation for those who no
longer speak the dialect or any Slovak at all. I was fortunate during my
early years to live with my maternal immigrant grandparents, who spoke
only Slovak and sometimes made English words Slovak, just as yours may
have done. Also, during each grade in my grammar schooling in Binghamton,
New York, the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius taught Slovak as a
regularly scheduled course. So I learned standard Slovak, as well. For
those who wish they could speak and understand Slovak, it is never too
late to learn.
Now on to my story. Michael Berish was a widower, not
just once but twice. I have no idea how long each marriage lasted, Like
most of us, I did not ask questions until it was too late. My Aunt Mary
told me that his first wife presented him with a son who was baptized
Michael. Some of us men cannot even boil water to stay alive, much less
raise a motherless son. After the death of his second wife, every eligible
woman in his village was reluctant to marry him. None of them was willing
to leave him a widower for a third time. So Michael set out on foot to
find a wife for himself and a mother for his son.
His journey led him to Sačurov and, being thirsty,
he stopped in at the local tavern. Then, even as today, the bartender was
always a font of information. He heard all the local gossip. Michael
tapped into that font.
“Či mace tu alebo či znace m1adu dzivku
alebo m1adu ženu ktora chce še vydac?”
(Do you have here or do you know a young woman who wants to marry?)...
PhDr.
Jozef LAPŠANSKÝ Francisciho 14 Levoča 054 01
Levoča’s
Madonna in the Basilica at Marian Mount has open palms, she has an
indication of smile on her face, and she is personifying harmonic accord
of magnificence and passionate humbleness. With its looks the statute is
creating an atmosphere of understanding, readiness and willingness to
listen to everyone who wants to sincere confess from lived through agony
or happiness to the Blessed Mary.
Admiration towards Mother of God was cherished in the hearts of our
forefathers. Worshipers would run to Levoča’s Virgin Mary with
confidence, young girls would find in her their ideal and suffering sense
of their sorrowful destiny. “There isn’t a bigger obligation than the
obligation to be thankful,” referred St. Ambróz. Pilgrimage mount with
the church above the ancient jewel of Slovak cities is preserving the
truth about the God, believing in him and it is providing unrepeatable
opportunity for sincere thankfulness.
“Nobody can add up, how much plight was brought up to this mount and
nobody could add up how much happiness was brought down from this
mount.” (Mons. Bernard Bober-Košice helping Bishop in his holily July
2, 2004.
Be blessed spirit of God... Virgin Mary visited Alžbeta not to sing the
triumphant Magnificent, but for her to humbly accept, live and to give the
Christian world gift: from woman, she was elevated to Mother of God, same
as were elevated and called poor fishermen to become Apostles of Christ...
ŠOMOŠKA
CASTLE
Šomoška
castle is located right at the Hungarian border. While approaching on the
road and looking straight at it you are actually looking from Slovakia
through Hungary at the castle, which is in Slovakia. I visited the castle
in summer of 1998.
Claming
up the hill you will pass by stone waterfall, a range of basalt lava
formations, which hardened into curved columns four million years ago and
now resemble liquid rock pouring into a stone sea. Such basalt columns,
which at this site are a haven for snakes and lizards, are found at few
places on earth: Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Northern
Ireland, California and Wyoming and British Columbia.
Beginnings
of Šomoška’s
castle date back to 1291. It was completely built from
hexagonal basalt
columns. It was a very small castle as the top of the hill on which it
stands is not very large. There was just one building with small
triangular shaped courtyard. Later on it was fortified with two huge tower
bastions. Third bastion was built at the entrance to the castle...
THE
NITRA’S SYNAGOGUE
The
Synagogue is a valuable architectural monument of Nitra, registered in The
Central List of Cultural Monuments of the Slovak Republic. It is situated
in Protective zone of the Historical Town Reserve.
As a result of Nitra’s Jeshurun community’s
wish, it was built in 1910-1911 in Moorish-Byzantine style, according to
the Project of Leopold Baumhorn. This building, inspired by the oriental
styles, is an attractive architectonic object, with its typical eclectic,
sacral look imitating both Byzantine and Oriental architectures.
The
Synagogue has a central square plan, with a polygonal salient on the
southern side. Flat glazed bricks combined with plasters, on which you can
see paintings inspired by oriental architecture, form facades. Central
cupola with polygonal skin and corner cupolas finish it.
Square interior is opened into a cupola positioned on four pillars, which
also support storied gallery. It is bordered by carved parapet with false
arcade motif. In the middle of the eastern wall there is a tabernacle.
The original owner of the Synagogue was the Jewish Religious Community,
since 1982 the District People's Committee in Nitra. According to the
legislative, in 1991 it became the property of The Town of Nitra.
The reconstruction of the synagogue was started in 1983. By 1990 the
reconstruction of the roof had been finished‑copper roof, tin works
and facade reparation. Second part of the reconstruction was realized
after 1996. Due to the support from the Department of Culture of the
Slovak Republic, Jewish Community of Zotermeer and above all, due to the
budget of the Town of Nitra, reconstruction of interior began eliminating
of emergency conditions of the gallery, ceiling fortification, building of
sanitary facilities, electrical installation, etc. This reconstruction
cost 23.5 mil Sk...
BOOK
REVIEWS
BRATISLAVA
TESTIMONY
OF HISTORIC POSTCARDS
BRATISLAVA
SVEDECTVO
HISTORICKÝCH POHĽADNÍC
This
is a fantastic hard cover large format book 10 x 13 3/8 inches containing
574 historical postcards and photographs with many views of the city from
the days gone by. It goes back to 1839 and the beginning of photography in
Bratislava. It shows the first known picture of Bratislava by J. Deutsch
from 1840-41.
The book is written in Slovak, German, and Hungarian languages. At the end
of the book the complete text is in English.
It starts with a chapter: From the History of Picture Postcards. Followed
by: Views of the City: Franciscan Square, Main Square,Clarisine Lane,
Lawrence Lane, St. Michalel’s Lane, Lords Lane, Primate Square,
Fishermen’s Gate, Ventura Street, American Square, Danube Lane, Gorki
Street, Deep Road, Hodža Square, Hurban Square, Hviezdoslav Square,
Jacob’s Square, Field Hospital Street, Factory Street, Jesenský Street,
Kollár Square, Goats Lane, Cross Lane, Ľ. Štúr Square, Commerce Lane,
The Palisades, Virgin Lane, Radlinský Street, Fish Square, Freedom
Square, Square of the Slovak National Uprising, Dry Toll, Šarárik Square
Rampart Streer, Hospital Lane, Štefánik Street, Štefanovič Lane, Windy
Lane, High Street, Zoch Lane, Castle Street, Jewish Lane, District Square,
Capucin Lane, The Daube Embankment, The Castle Surroundings, The Castle,
Transpor, Church Buildings, The Fire Brigade, Culture and Education,
Aerial Views, Bridges, Parks, Greenery, Foresters‘ Lodges, Catering,
Recreation, Sport, Industry, Factories, Wine Growing and Wine Bars, The
Military, Health Service and Welfare, Floods, The Fire in 1913,
Exhibitions and Fairs, The Visit of Francis Joseph I in 1908, The Visit of
Emperor Charles in 1918, The Incorporation of Bratislava into
Czechoslovakia, The Last Farewell to Milan Rastislav Štefánik, The Bomb
Attack on March 13, 1939, The
Bombing Raid on June 16, 1944.
I lived in Bratislava for the first 19 years of my life from 1950 until
1969 and I still remember many scenes of Bratislava captured on these
postcards. It has brought back many memories and I would certainly
recommend it and especially to people that used to live in Bratislava.
The
book is available now.
COST
US$119.95
plus US$10.95 shipping and handling
TOTAL US$130.90
Please mail personal check to:
Vladimir Linder
3804 Yale Street
Burnaby
BC V5C 1P6
CANADA
RESTAURANT
AND HOTEL GUIDE 2005
(Ratings,
rankings, and commentaries)
Publisher: Trend Holding, s. r. o. Bratislava, 2004
ISBN
80-968853-2-4
Very
popular TREND restaurant guide was published for several years in a row.
This edition was extended by hotels and the very handy format of this book
increased to 476 pages.
It
is very important to mention, that for the first time the entire book is
in two languages, in the Slovak and English languages, which was not the
case in the past editions.
After introduction, symbols and ratings are explained. The next section
describes what was evaluated at restaurants and hotels.
The part entitled selection of Slovak restaurants is followed by Slovak
hotels and guesthouses.
The second, equally important part presents trend top restaurants in
Slovakia, as well as restaurants sorted according to their location in
individual Slovak regions.
A completely new section presents top chefs, sommeliers, and
delicacies.
The next part presents trend top hotels and guesthouses in Slovakia.
A very useful part includes restaurants listed by cuisine.
Visitors of Slovakia should also appreciate few words from traditional
Slovak, Czech, and Hungarian cuisine, included in the final part of this
book.
Restaurant and hotel guide is strongly recommended when are you planning
to visit Slovakia and will save lot of your time looking for phone numbers
or email addresses.
Reviewed
by: Miroslava Dulova
www.etrend.sk
For FREE sample issue of
The Slovak Heritage Live Newsletter
please send in or email your postal address to:
Vladimir
Linder
3804 Yale Street
Burnaby, BC,
Canada, V5C 1P6
Phone/Fax:
1-604-291-8065
This limited time offer is good
only in North America
GO
TO SLOVAK HERITAGE LIVE MAIN PAGE
vlinder49@shaw.ca
Copyright © Vladimir Linder 2005
3804 Yale
Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5C 1P6
The above article and photographs may not be copied, reproduced,
republished, or redistributed by any means including electronic, without
the express written permission of Vladimir
Linder. All rights
reserved.
|